LONDON

G7 countries, the EU, as well as Australia, South Korea and New Zealand on Tuesday expressed “serious concern” about the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia and condemned growing cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and the high representative of the EU expressed “serious concern” for the deployment. of North Korean troops to Russia, “potentially for use on the battlefield against Ukraine.”

“North Korea’s direct support for Russia’s war against Ukraine would mark a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for the peace and security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific,” the statement states, recalling that several thousand troops North Koreans have been deployed in Russia. .

Foreign ministers said it would be a “new violation” of international law, including the most fundamental principles of the UN Charter.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the growing military cooperation between the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) and Russia, including the export by the DPRK and the illegal acquisition by Russia of ballistic missiles from the DPRK in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCR), as well as Russia’s use of these missiles and munitions against Ukraine.”

He further noted that they are also “deeply concerned” about the possibility of any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology from Russia to the DPRK in violation of the relevant UNSCRs.

Calling on North Korea to stop providing assistance to Russia’s war, the foreign ministers reaffirmed an “unwavering commitment” to support Ukraine.

Earlier, South Korea and Ukraine said about 10,000 North Korean troops were deployed in Russia.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also confirmed that North Korean troops were already in the Kursk region in a “dangerous expansion” of the conflict.

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